Sri Lanka well positioned to contribute to greater connectivity
Sri Lanka strongly supports the vision of building a community with a shared future based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment told the 7th China South Asia Cooperation Forum held in Kunming, Yunnan Province from June 11-12.
He said stronger regional partnerships are essential for addressing common challenges and unlocking new opportunities for growth and development. The friendship between Sri Lanka and China is founded on a long history of mutual support and understanding. It is a time-tested friendship.
“For decades, our two countries have worked closely together in diverse sectors including trade, investment, infrastructure, tourism, education, culture, health care and people-to-people exchanges. This enduring partnership continues to make a meaningful contribution to Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development and remains a key pillar of our foreign relations. Under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka is pursuing a people-centred development path guided by principles of good governance, economic stability, social justice, transparency and international cooperation.”
He said as Sri Lanka advances its economic recovery and development agenda, they committed to creating a stable, investor-friendly and outward-looking economy and are focused on promoting trade, attracting foreign investment, enhancing connectivity, accelerating digital transformation and expanding opportunities in tourism, renewable energy, agriculture and the global economy and welcome greater cooperation with China and our South Asian partners in these priority sectors.
As a strategically located maritime nation in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is well positioned to contribute to greater connectivity between South Asia, East Asia and the global market. Educational exchanges, youth engagement, cultural interactions, academic collaborations and tourism cooperation are essential for fostering mutual understanding and building lasting friendship among our nations. Such people-to-people connections serve as the foundation of enduring partnerships.
Hemachandra said innovation and technology are equally important drivers of future growth. By strengthening cooperation in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, innovation and capacity building, our countries can better equip themselves to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy. Climate change continues to pose a serious threat to our region and South Asian nations must collaborate on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development to ensure regional prosperity and resilience through South-South cooperation.
He added that Sri Lanka remains firmly committed to working closely with China, fellow regional partners and multilateral fora to advance the country’s shared aspirations and contribute meaningfully to the realisation of a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive development.
Source: Daily News